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Mages of Asmadur

Part 2

Arch mage Dermail had called the council together for an unscheduled, but not really unexpected meeting. Every year around this time the mages came together to discuss the academy's newest apprentices. Yet, Dermail realized, that this was not going to be a routine meeting. Word about Treize's return had started to spread, and he knew that there were some members of the council who did not agree with that. Nevertheless, the arch mage didn't expect that he was going to come under attack the very moment he set foot into the council chamber.
Most of the mages were already sitting around the large table when Dermail walked into the room. Master mage Septm turned toward him at once. The man didn't waste any time with polite greetings but asked: "I've heard that Treize was at the academy yesterday. Rumor has it that he asked you for an apprentice. Is that true?"
"Yes and no," the arch mage relied calmly.
Septm frowned. "What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"It means: yes, he was at the academy, and no, he didn't ask for an apprentice. I was the one who asked him to take one."
"You can't be serious," the master mage snapped. "How can you even consider allowing him to train another pupil? Besides, shouldn't that be a decision made by all of us?"
"That's where you are wrong. As the headmaster of the school and the head of this council I have the authority to make such a decision on my own." Dermail clarified as he took his seat at the table. "And I do not have to explain my actions."
Septm snorted. "Perhaps you don't have to explain yourself to me or the rest of the council," he snarled. "But how do you justify your actions in front of the parents of that Winner boy?"

"I agree with Master Mage Septm," Quinze remarked. "It's a slap into their faces to allow the man responsible for their son's death to…"

"Excuse me!" Lady Une protested. "You are making it sound like Treize is some sort of cold-blooded killer, if in fact he was the one who tried to save that boy's life by any means."

"Besides," Rashid Kurama added. "The Winner family made it very clear that they never held this school or Treize responsible for their son's death. It was a terrible, but unpredictable accident."

"An accident perhaps," Septm agreed. "But I wouldn't really call it unpredictable. It was an accident waiting to happen. Milliardo should have never been allowed to continue his training after Tubarov was banished. We all knew how strong the bond between a master and apprentice can be and that there was a possibility that Tubarov had manipulated his pupil. And perhaps you might remember that I was the one who warned the council back then about the possible consequences."

"Please remind me, was that before or after it was decided that Milliardo was going to finish his apprenticeship with Treize and not with you?" Une asked acidly.
Septm threw her an icy look.

Somebody cleared his throat and all heads turned toward Treize who was standing in the door. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

*****

Once Wufei had packed the last of his clothes into the large, leather trunk he checked his desk and the nightstand to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. He took a look around the room he had been sharing with Heero for the past five years.
Although he would never admit it, Wufei knew he would miss living at the academy and being around his friends. Until he had come to this school he had never had real friends. The children at home in his village didn't play much with him. Perhaps they were intimidated by his powers which they didn't understand. And even the adults had treated differently, because he was special.

Wufei had been born during the dragon festival - the day when his clan honored and worshipped Shenlong, their guardian and protector. His birth on that special day was a clear sign that he had been chosen by the dragon god himself as the clan's future summoner, the only person who was able to summon and control Shenlong. So, it came as no surprise to anyone in the village that the boy showed magical powers at an early age. The decision that he was going to attend the Academy of Magic was made long before Wufei could remember. Nobody had ever asked him what he wanted to do, but he had little choice but to accept his faith. In his culture one didn't question the elders' decisions. It just wasn't done.
When Wufei turned seven years old, a member of the mages council came to the village to test him. Two years later he had begun his training at the academy. Time had passed so quick since then.

This is odd, he thought. It almost feels like leaving home for a second time.
But of course this time it was different. He wasn't really leaving for good. Although he was an apprentice now, he still was a student at this school, and he was coming back here from time to time to take tests. And of course, if the arch mage kept his promise, it was possible that he was going to return in a few weeks. Wufei really couldn't see how he and Treize ever could form a good master/apprentice relationship, but he was willing to give it a try.

*****

Septm turned toward Dermail. "What is he doing here?"
"The last time I checked I was still a member of this council," Treize answered instead of the arch mage. "Therefore, I have the same right to be here as you have."
"Welcome back, Treize." Master Mage Noventa spoke as the ginger-blond man took his seat at the table. "I'm glad that Arch mage Dermail managed to convince you to return."
"Thank you, Sir."

Septm still glared but didn't say another word. With Dermail, Noventa and several other high-ranking members of the council on Treize's side there was little he could do.
"I know this is really none of my business," Noventa continued. "But may I ask anyway what you have been doing all this time?"

Treize hesitated for just one moment before he answered: "I have been trying to find Tubarov."
That simple statement earned him looks of surprise and confusion, and he was almost sure that at least one or two people in the room wondered if he had lost his mind.
"When I was fighting Milliardo I felt Tubarov's presence several times very clear." Treize explained. Until now he had only told one other person, master mage Rashid, about his suspicion that the dark mage was still around.
"But that's impossible," master mage Bonaparte remarked. "Nobody has ever returned after being banished." The gray-haired, bearded man couldn't necessarily be regarded as an admirer of Treize Khushrenada. He considered the young and dashing mage far too moderate and unconventional. Treize on the other hand had told Bonaparte once that he was hopelessly stuck in the past, and that he confused upholding traditions with holding on to outdated principles. Anybody who couldn't keep up with the pace of time, Treize had said, was bound to stumble eventually. Although Bonaparte regretted what happened five years go as much as anybody else, he would be lying if he said that it didn't please him to no end, that of all people Treize had been the one who had 'stumbled'.
"I'm very well aware of that," the young mage agreed. "But I'm not suggesting that he has returned. I'm saying that there is a possibility that our spell failed. Hasn't anybody ever wondered why somebody as powerful as Tubarov put up so remarkably little resistance? It just seemed too easy…"
"Too easy?" Septm snorted. "If my memory serves me right it took the combined powers of seven mages to banish him. But then of course, you might not consider that difficult at all, since nobody got killed in the process."
That stung, but Treize still managed to smile as he asked acidly. "And how would you know how difficult it really was. If my memory serves me right you were not even present when we performed the spell."
Septm's face turned bright red, but before he could make a retort master mage J intervened.
"Are the two of you going to go on like this for much longer? Some of us have more important things to do than listening to childish quarrels. I feel like I have walked into a classroom full of ten-year-olds rather than into a meeting of the supreme mages council."
"I could not agree more," Dermail nodded. "Fighting and squabbling will not get us anywhere."
"Treize, have you found any other evidence to back up your theory that Tubarov is still around?" Noventa wanted to know.
The ginger-blond mage shook his head. "No, at this point I haven't," he had to admit. But the tone in which he delivered these words left no doubt that he wasn't finished looking yet.
"I think you are chasing after ghosts," master mage Bonaparte said. "It's been more than five years. If Tubarov really would still be in this realm don't you think he would have made his presence known by now?"

"Not necessarily." G shrugged. "He could be waiting for the right moment. Or for all we know he could be planning something. Five years are not a very long time for somebody looking for revenge. I don't think we should take this lightly." He looked sharply at Treize. "I just would like to know why this wasn't brought up earlier."
"That was my decision, Sir." Rashid spoke up. "I was afraid word might get out if too many people knew about our suspicions. Instead I ordered my men to keep a close eye on Tubarov's castle and check regularly for any signs that our seal had been broken or tampered with."
Dermail frowned. "You are not suggesting that the people in this room are not trustworthy, are you?" he asked sternly.
"No, Sir, of course not."

"The Maganacs have always played a unique role in Asmadur's defense force, and I fully understand that you need certain amount of liberty when it comes to making decisions, Master Mage. But that doesn't give you the authority to completely disregard this council."

Rashid glanced down penitently. "I stand corrected."
"What's done is done," the arch mage broke the uneasy silence that followed Rashid's admission. "For now it is probably best to continue keeping close watch on Tubarov's castle. If he is still around, that's where he will show up sooner or later, I'm certain." As the other mages nodded in agreement Dermail continued. "Now let's move on to a more pleasant issue, shall we? We have a great group of pupils who will be starting their apprenticeship this year. I don't remember having seen students with such remarkable skills and abilities in a very long time. As most of you already know Master Mage Treize will be taking Chang Wufei as his apprentice. Master Mage Rashid asked me to assign Trowa Barton as his pupil, and Master Mage J mentioned that he was interested in continue the training of Heero Yuy." Each of the men nodded as the arch mage looked at them. "I thought that it might be best if I personally take Dorothy under my wings. I'm sure you agree with me that Relena Darlian should be trained as a healer. I'm planning on assigning her to Sally Po. Relena has been helping out in the infirmary on occasion, so the two of them know each other well. I realize that Sally is still young, but I think she is more than ready for her first apprentice. Which brings me to Mister Maxwell…Lady Une, what would you think about taking Duo into your care?"
The young woman's eyes went wide in horror. "You can't be serious, Arch Mage. That boy would drive me insane. He has absolutely no discipline."
It was obvious that Dermail had to fight down a smirk before he replied. "I'm well aware of that, Lady Une. And that's why I have chosen you as his instructor. If anybody can keep Duo in line it's you. Besides you are one of the best spell casters in Asmadur. Duo will need somebody like you to help him reach his full potential."

"Besides," J chortled quietly. "Don't they say you can't teach somebody without learning a little bit yourself? Perhaps both teacher and student would benefit from the arrangement."

"Of course, the choice is yours. Please, think about it and let me know you decide."
Une nodded.
"As you can see," Dermail continued. " The students that have been tested already is pretty much covered, but I still need a few instructors for the second group. Anybody who is interested should contact me about it."
"Actually," G spoke. "I was thinking of taking another apprentice. I know Noin still has one year of training left, but she is an outstanding pupil. And since she is planning on staying here at the academy as an instructor I thought she could only learn from helping me with a new apprentice."
"I'll consider it." The arch mage nodded. "Well, unless there is anything else I'll close the meeting."

*****

Wufei materialized on a phasing platform in Treize's castle. He gazed around as he stepped of the circular base. The room looked like a mage's study. Shelves stacked with spell books lined the walls. The centerpiece of the room was a velvet-draped table cluttered with books, herbs and all kinds of potions ingredients.
At about the same moment as Treize appeared on the platform next to him an elderly man with grayish-white hair entered the study.
"Welcome home, Master Treize," he spoke.
"Thank you, Alden. I would like you to meet Chang Wufei, my new apprentice." The master mage gestured at the boy, and then turned to Wufei. "Wufei, this is Alden. He takes care of the house."
Wufei gave the man a friendly nod. "It's nice to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine."
"Alden, please show Wufei to his quarters. I'll see the two of you at dinner." With that Treize turned and walked away. Wufei watched as he disappeared into another room.

"Shall we?" Alden gestured invitingly at the wide staircase.

The boy nodded. He followed him upstairs and through a long corridor until they stopped in front of a heavy door.
"Your bedroom," the servant pointed out as he opened the door for Wufei.
As the boy stepped into the room he noted that his trunk and his bags had already been brought up. Wufei gazed around. The chamber was larger than the room he had shared with Heero at the academy, and beautifully furnished. The large four-poster bed looked very old, but comfortable. Two nightstands, a dresser and a small writing desk were carved in the same patterns as the bed. Right and left of the fireplace stood two large armchairs. Two stained-glass windows provided a nice view over the garden and cobblestone road leading to the castle.

"I'll leave you then, Master Wufei. If you need anything or have any questions I'm happy to assist you."
"Thank you, Alden."
The old man turned once more when he was already at the door the. "Dinner will be at six o clock. Master Treize insists on punctuality."
The boy nodded in acknowledgement. As the door closed behind the servant Wufei let his gaze wander for a few more moments before he looked down at his luggage. For a moment he wondered if he was even going to stay long enough to warrant the effort of unpacking.

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T.B.C.

Author's Note:

Check out my Sims companion website to this fic. It has not only background info but you can also take a virtual tour through the academy and look at photos of some of the characters. More will be added as the story developed.
I made 2 entry pages. If you have a slow computer or one that doesn't allow java applets please use this link

http://www.gundam-wing-fanfiction.net/sims/academy1.htm < p class="MsoNormal">
For java enabled computers use this entry page. The java version is a little cooler IMHO.
http://www.gundam-wing-fanfiction.net/sims/academy.htm

Feedback is greatly appreciated, constructive criticism is welcome :-)